The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

This Statutory Instrument has been printed partially to correct errors in S.I. 2020/791 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 839

Public Health, England

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Approved by both Houses of Parliament

Made

6th August 2020

Laid before Parliament

7th August 2020

Coming into force

8th August 2020

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 45C(1), (3)(c) and (4)(d), 45F(2) and 45P(2) of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984(1).

These Regulations are made in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in England.

The Secretary of State considers that the requirements imposed by these Regulations are proportionate to what they seek to achieve, which is a public health response to the threat.

In accordance with section 45R of that Act the Secretary of State is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make this instrument without a draft having been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 8th August 2020.

(3) These Regulations apply in England.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) Regulations 2020

2.—(1) The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) Regulations 2020(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1), at the appropriate place insert—

““crematoria” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Cremation Act 1902(3);”;

““indoor places of worship” means any building, room or other indoor premises used for public religious worship;”; and

““registered pharmacy” has the same meaning as in section 74 of the Medicines Act 1968(4);”.

(3) In regulation 2(1) in the definition of “relevant place”, for “Part 1 of the Schedule”, substitute “Schedule 1”.

(4) In regulation 2(2), for “Part 2 of the Schedule”, substitute “Schedule 2”.

(5) In regulation 2(4)(c)—

(a) for “is in itself”, substitute “is itself”;

(b) for “the Schedule”, substitute “Schedule 1”.

(6) In regulation 2(4)(d)—

(a) for “it itself”, substitute “it is itself”;

(b) for “Part 2 of the Schedule”, substitute “Schedule 2”.

(7) In regulation 4, omit sub-paragraph (2).

(8) In the Schedule—

(a) for the headings “Schedule” and “Part 1 Relevant places where face coverings must be worn”, substitute “Schedule 1 Relevant places where face coverings must be worn”;

(b) after paragraph 4 insert—

“5.   Indoor places of worship.

6.   Community centres including youth centres.

7.   Crematoria and burial ground chapels.

8.   Public areas in hotels and hostels.

9.   Concert halls, exhibition halls and other public halls.

10.   Cinemas.

11.   Museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, and other indoor, or indoor parts of, tourist, heritage or cultural sites.

12.   Bingo halls.

13.   Public libraries and reading rooms.”.

(c) omit Part 2 of the Schedule;

(d) after Schedule 1 (as renumbered by regulation 2(8)(a)) insert—

Regulation 2(2)

“SCHEDULE 2 Exemptions from definition of shop

1.   Premises (other than registered pharmacies) providing wholly or mainly medical or dental services, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractic, osteopathic, optometry or other medical services including services relating to mental health.

2.   Indoor fitness studios, gyms, dance studios, leisure centres, indoor swimming pools, water parks, funfairs, theme parks or other premises for indoor sports, leisure or adventure activities.

3.   Photography studios.”.

Matt Hancock

Secretary of State,

Department of Health and Social Care

6th August 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) Regulations 2020 to add further relevant places where members of the public are required to wear face coverings. It also removes some existing exemptions from the definition of “shop” such that premises that were exempt are now included in the definition of relevant place. This has the effect of requiring members of the public to wear face coverings in wider range of places than previously provided for in England to protect against the risks to public health arising from coronavirus, except in certain limited cases.

These Regulations also make two minor typographical corrections and move a definition to the main definition provision.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been published alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1)

1984 c. 22 (“the 1984 Act”). Part 2A was inserted by section 129 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14). See section 45T of the 1984 Act for the definition of “the appropriate Minister”.

(2)

S.I. 2020/791.

(3)

1902 c. 8.

(4)

1968 c. 67.